Russell: Getting Pirelli's F1 tyres to work is like solving a Rubik's Cube

  • Published on 08 Jan 2020 13:32
  • comments 0
  • By: Dieter Rencken & Fergal Walsh

George Russell has made the comparison of trying to solve a Rubick's Cube to getting Pirelli's Formula 1 tyres to work.

In recent years, the operating window of the tyres has caused problems for some teams, with the tyres offering a large pace advantage when they are prepared properly for a hot lap. 

Russell says he is happy with how he spent his rookie season learning the Pirelli compounds, which is something he wants to maximise in order to extract pace from the car.

MORERussell confident Williams will 'definitely' be stronger in 2020 | Russell 'feeling good' despite tough debut F1 season

"I now have a year of experience of understanding these tyres, and what it takes to get them working well. That's what I want to optimise. 

"I know when I can get them to work well, I can do the job. But getting them to work well is like trying to complete a Rubick's cube."

F1 'different ball game' compared to F2

In 2018, Formula 1 announced that Pirelli had secured its place as the sport's sole tyre supplier until at least the end of the 2023 season

F1's support categories Formula 2 and Formula 3 also run Pirelli tyres, however Russell says that there is only so much a driver can carry over to the big leap into F1. 

"It helped a little bit, but F1 is a completely different ball-game," he said of gaining experience with Pirelli in F2.

"It's tricky, not just for me but for every driver. The general characteristics of the Pirelli tyres have been the same for the last ten years. 

"They change here or there but there's nothing drastically changing with them. They might be harder or softer, or harder or easier to warm up, but there's never anything drastic."

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 08:37

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 08:37

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2 2024
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia
5 - Apr 7 2024
Japan
19 - Apr 21 2024
China
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America
17 - May 19 2024
Italy
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco
7 - Jun 9 2024
Canada
21 - Jun 23 2024
Spain
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary
26 - Jul 28 2024
Belgium
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22 2024
Singapore
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America
25 - Oct 27 2024
Mexico
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America
29 - Dec 1 2024
Qatar
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2 2024
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7 2024
19 - Apr 21 2024
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19 2024
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9 2024
21 - Jun 23 2024
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28 2024
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22 2024
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27 2024
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1 2024
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Mercedes
  • Points 713
  • Podiums 15
  • Grand Prix 128
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Feb 15 1998 (27)
  • Place of b. King's Lynn, GB
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.85 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar